You know that feeling when your heart is broken and there is nothing you can do to mend it? That is the state I have been in for a while. This post is different from my others, it has nothing to due with my readings. This is my heart overflowing with no outlet for my thoughts or emotions to fall upon. So, I am putting it in a post.
What is my heart broken over? The fact that ministry has become a career and not a lifestyle to so many pastors and non-profit organizations. I am an educated person, I hold two degrees from Kuyper College (Youth Ministry, Bible/Theology); however. I am working a ten dollar an hour job just so I can be a part of ministry. For me, ministry is my life, it bleeds out of me. Yet, I am looked down upon by the church because I don't view a program or a sermon as the heart beat of a ministry. I understand there needs to be teaching and programming, but the emphasis is misplaced if that is at the core. Did Christ ever just give a sermon and call it a night? No, he lived with, walked with his people everyday.
It saddens me wen I see churches seeking people who only want to climb up the political church ladder. Their eyes are set on climbing ministry by ministry through the church. I am saddened because this shows no passion for the ministry they are involved in, it shows their desires are not to do ministry, but to build a career. I desire deeply to work in a youth group, my heart has been molded for a single purpose, living each day walking along side of teens. I have not obtained this goal because of the career chasers, the ladder climber's. Apparently there is no room for a Youth Pastor who has only one interest, which is to be allowed to live out his life doing what he was made to do, being a YOUTH PASTOR.
For me, doing God's work, is my lifestyle, as it should be as a pastor. But too often pastors and other ministry workers get sidetracked by career, money, time, control, etc. They lose focus of why they ever entered ministry. We our in ministry to be Christ to others. The only way to do that is to do what Christ did, in terms of ministry, and live as much like him as we can. One other area where I have seen churches falling is in the leaderships desire to meet the needs of the poor and outcasts. Churches shun these people or they cut a check each month to help the cause. Christ deliberately focused on these people. The Gospel of Matthew says that Jesus came for the poor, outcast, women, children all those who are cut off from society. Why are we as the church not opening our heart, doors, ministries to these people? Instead each week the leadership caters to their upper-middle class members. I am calling out the leaders, pastors, directors, etc. to stop your career, pick up the cross and reset your lifestyle to that of Christ so the church can truly do God's work and be a saving grace.
My heart is burdened for the lost, the youth which are the two set of people the church ignores the most. God made me to be a pastor, it is not my career, it is my lifestyle, the core of who I am. I do it for no pay (I would like to have it support my family), but it is ingrained in me so deeply I can't not be involved. Why can't a person with two degrees, formal training, eight years experience be a youth pastor for a church or work with the poor? Because I am different, my ethos does not align with the church, at my core is the desire to be in relationships, which all else in ministry stems from. My heart is broken.
Apologies for the rant and random nature of this post. I promise all future posts will be thought out and backed up like they have been, this has been an outlet for a one-time overflow of my heart. Thanks for listening.
In His Name,
-David Mann
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Christianity: Religion or Relationship?
As I continue to do my coffee house reading, the more my heart is burdened for the so called Christian's and the church across the world. The further I read through "Follow Me", the more I realize how far off Christianity is from who God's people ought to be. Are we just another religion or are we a people with a direct relationship with our savior? Let me say this, when we are truly saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, we must be compelled to pursue Christ's calling and follow him. We cannot sit back and allow Christianity to become a mere religion. We must be active, as disciples of Christ, and go out making disciples of Christ. If this does not happen, we fall back in line with every other religion! "I realized that they all shared one common denominator: in every religion, a teacher (or series of teachers) prescribes certain paths to follow in order to honor God (or different gods) and experience salvation (however that is described)."
The only aspect that sets us apart from every other religion is this: "When Jesus came on the scene in human history and began calling his followers to himself, he did not say, Follow certain rules. Observe specific regulations. Perform ritual duties. Pursue a particular path. Instead, he said, Follow me". What we have different, we have a savior who came to be human, to call us, invite us into a personal and saving relationship with him, not on our own merit, but all based upon his love and mercy. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. The call of Jesus was, Come to me. Find rest for your souls in me. Find joy in your heart from me. Find meaning in your life through me." Matthew 11: 58-60: "all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
As it seems, we have let Christianity become a mere religion. Superficial religion consists of only believing certain truths and doing certain things. The curse of this religion is the constant attempt to do outward things apart from inward transformation. You desire to do good, live a solid life according to these rules, but it has no affect on your heart. "Jesus did not come so that we might live a life of superficial religion. He came so that we might receive new life through super natural regeneration." To do this, we have one great need: A new heart, which is only provided through salvation. "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (John 3:3,5). "This new heart would first and foremost be cleansed of sin, (cleansed) from all your impurities" (Jer. 31:33-34; Mt. 1:21; Jn. 1:29; Is. 1:18; Ps. 51:2; 1Cor. 6:11; 1 Jn. 1:9). Such cleansing as this is a gift from God not based on your merit, but soley upon God's mercy. "As we turn from our sin to trust in Christ, we receive a new, clean heart, and God in his grace remembers our sins no more".
With this new heart, comes a new spirit, the spirit that dwells with our Savior. Ezekiel 36:26-27: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.... I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." When you are saved, when you come to follow Jesus, he put the source of his life inn the center of your life. Romans 8:10-11: "If Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies though his Spirit, who lives in you."
Once you are save, you are given a new heart and spirit, you may now follow Christ as his disciple, but it doesn't stop there. Your growth and life as a disciple is vital, but you must turnaround and begin making disciples of Christ.
It's funny, if you notice, in Jesus' invitation to follow him, he does not tell his disciples what he will call them to do. Instead, "Jesus tells them what he will cause them to do. The commands he would give to them could only be accomplished by the work that he would do in them. As these disciples followed Jesus, he would transform everything about their lives: their thoughts, their desires, their wills, their relationships, and ultimately the very purpose for which they lived." As a result of being a disciple, they would make disciple of Jesus. For every one of these disciples, following Jesus would lead to fishing for men. "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Mt. 28:19-20).
"Having been forgiven of their sin and soon to be filled with God's Spirit, they would give their lives not simply to being disciples of Jesus, but sacrificially to making disciples of Jesus." "The overflow of transformation in these disciples was multiplication through these disciples. As Jesus transformed their minds, they became convicted that people needed to hear the gospel. As Jesus transformed their desires, they longed for people to hear the gospel. As Jesus transformed their wills, they were compelled to give their lives to proclaiming the gospel. As Jesus transformed their relationships, they loved people enough to share the gospel with them, even though it cost them everything they had. Jesus had transformed their very purpose for living - every disciple was sacrificially committed to making disciples - and the trajectory of their lives was never the same."
Christianity cannot remain a mere religion for that is not it's purpose. It's purpose is to be a people of God in relationship with Himself and each other. Devoted as His disciples, devoted to making disciples. "If you are truly a disciple of Jesus, you will be supernaturally compelled to make disciples of Jesus. True followers of Jesus do not need to be convinced, cajoled, persuaded, or manipulated into making disciples of all nations. Everyone who follows Jesus biblically will fish for men globally."
The only aspect that sets us apart from every other religion is this: "When Jesus came on the scene in human history and began calling his followers to himself, he did not say, Follow certain rules. Observe specific regulations. Perform ritual duties. Pursue a particular path. Instead, he said, Follow me". What we have different, we have a savior who came to be human, to call us, invite us into a personal and saving relationship with him, not on our own merit, but all based upon his love and mercy. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. The call of Jesus was, Come to me. Find rest for your souls in me. Find joy in your heart from me. Find meaning in your life through me." Matthew 11: 58-60: "all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
As it seems, we have let Christianity become a mere religion. Superficial religion consists of only believing certain truths and doing certain things. The curse of this religion is the constant attempt to do outward things apart from inward transformation. You desire to do good, live a solid life according to these rules, but it has no affect on your heart. "Jesus did not come so that we might live a life of superficial religion. He came so that we might receive new life through super natural regeneration." To do this, we have one great need: A new heart, which is only provided through salvation. "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (John 3:3,5). "This new heart would first and foremost be cleansed of sin, (cleansed) from all your impurities" (Jer. 31:33-34; Mt. 1:21; Jn. 1:29; Is. 1:18; Ps. 51:2; 1Cor. 6:11; 1 Jn. 1:9). Such cleansing as this is a gift from God not based on your merit, but soley upon God's mercy. "As we turn from our sin to trust in Christ, we receive a new, clean heart, and God in his grace remembers our sins no more".
With this new heart, comes a new spirit, the spirit that dwells with our Savior. Ezekiel 36:26-27: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.... I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." When you are saved, when you come to follow Jesus, he put the source of his life inn the center of your life. Romans 8:10-11: "If Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies though his Spirit, who lives in you."
Once you are save, you are given a new heart and spirit, you may now follow Christ as his disciple, but it doesn't stop there. Your growth and life as a disciple is vital, but you must turnaround and begin making disciples of Christ.
It's funny, if you notice, in Jesus' invitation to follow him, he does not tell his disciples what he will call them to do. Instead, "Jesus tells them what he will cause them to do. The commands he would give to them could only be accomplished by the work that he would do in them. As these disciples followed Jesus, he would transform everything about their lives: their thoughts, their desires, their wills, their relationships, and ultimately the very purpose for which they lived." As a result of being a disciple, they would make disciple of Jesus. For every one of these disciples, following Jesus would lead to fishing for men. "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Mt. 28:19-20).
"Having been forgiven of their sin and soon to be filled with God's Spirit, they would give their lives not simply to being disciples of Jesus, but sacrificially to making disciples of Jesus." "The overflow of transformation in these disciples was multiplication through these disciples. As Jesus transformed their minds, they became convicted that people needed to hear the gospel. As Jesus transformed their desires, they longed for people to hear the gospel. As Jesus transformed their wills, they were compelled to give their lives to proclaiming the gospel. As Jesus transformed their relationships, they loved people enough to share the gospel with them, even though it cost them everything they had. Jesus had transformed their very purpose for living - every disciple was sacrificially committed to making disciples - and the trajectory of their lives was never the same."
Christianity cannot remain a mere religion for that is not it's purpose. It's purpose is to be a people of God in relationship with Himself and each other. Devoted as His disciples, devoted to making disciples. "If you are truly a disciple of Jesus, you will be supernaturally compelled to make disciples of Jesus. True followers of Jesus do not need to be convinced, cajoled, persuaded, or manipulated into making disciples of all nations. Everyone who follows Jesus biblically will fish for men globally."
Saturday, December 7, 2013
The Reality of Repentance
Repentance is a vital building block for the Christian life. It is the first step of salvation and in accepting the offer of Christ's sacrifice on the cross for your sins. It is such a foundational aspect of a disciples life, that the first word out of Jesus' mouth in his ministry in the New Testament was "Repent" (Matthew 4:17). "Repentance is a rich biblical term that signifies an elemental transformation in someone's mind, heart, and life." In thinking of what repentance looks like, it is taking a person who is headed down one path, but suddenly they turn and sprint back up the path they were headed. From the instant a person repents, truly repents, they act different, they live different, talk different, feel different, everything about that person has changed.
Christ was speaking in the New Testament, to people who were rebelling against God and were relying on themselves, not God, for salvation. "Jesus' call to repentance, then, was a summons for them to renounce sin and all dependence on self for salvation. Only by turning from their sin and themselves and toward Jesus could they be saved." Fundamentally, then, repentance involves renouncing a former way of life in favor of a new way of life. This means dying to yourself, and becoming alive in Christ, as was discussed in "The Call". God tells his people in Ezekiel 14:6 to "Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices." Also, in 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 he says that repentance requires turning from your idols of this world to a new object of worship.
In dying to yourself, or in terminology from this week, renouncing your old ways, some of the object and idols in society today may be materialism, pornography, ungodly television/movies, etc. that you need to cut out or overcome in your repentance. There are aspects of our lives that we need to repent and work on always, we need to do a 360 and start charging to God instead of crawling away from his outstretched hand. Here is a quote that was shared in "The Call" that fits well with repentance: "For every Christian in every culture, repentance is necessary. But this does not mean that when we become followers of Jesus, we make a decided break with an old way of living and take a decisive turn to a new way of life. We literally die to our sin and to ourselves - our self-centeredness, self-consumption, self-righteousness, self-indulgence, self-effort, and self-exaltation. We have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us" and that is why we repent. Christ lives in us. Let us see what scripture says specifically about repentance:
In Acts 2:31-38 we are shown Peter proclaiming the good news of Christ's death for sin to the crowd's, when they ask him, "What shall we do?" Peter does not have them repeat a prayer, but he stares the crowd right in their eyes and says, "Repent!"
Acts 26:20 says, "First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." We see that works do not secure salvation either before or after conversion, but they are a sign of the reality of repentance. Repentance is the first step and a foundational aspect of salvation and the Christian life, this cannot be overlooked.
2 Peter 3:8-9 says, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." It is important to understand that repenting is not just for the saved, but for those who are wanting to come to Christ. It is also equally as important to know repenting is not a one and one deal. It is ongoing in your conversation with God.
Isaiah 30:15 says, "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it." We have found the true way to salvation and security! It is repentance and rest, all we have to do is repent and rest.
Jeremiah 15:19 says, "Therefore this is what the Lord says: If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. In verses 20-21 we see God encourages and renews Jeremiah's call for his repentance. Only good will come from your relationship with God if you repent.
This is just some of the verses in scripture that speak to repentance, but they all lead to one thing: A relationship with God through Salvation and a new way of living as a disciple of Christ alive with Christ living in you. This is repentance, without it, you are without Christ.
Christ was speaking in the New Testament, to people who were rebelling against God and were relying on themselves, not God, for salvation. "Jesus' call to repentance, then, was a summons for them to renounce sin and all dependence on self for salvation. Only by turning from their sin and themselves and toward Jesus could they be saved." Fundamentally, then, repentance involves renouncing a former way of life in favor of a new way of life. This means dying to yourself, and becoming alive in Christ, as was discussed in "The Call". God tells his people in Ezekiel 14:6 to "Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices." Also, in 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 he says that repentance requires turning from your idols of this world to a new object of worship.
In dying to yourself, or in terminology from this week, renouncing your old ways, some of the object and idols in society today may be materialism, pornography, ungodly television/movies, etc. that you need to cut out or overcome in your repentance. There are aspects of our lives that we need to repent and work on always, we need to do a 360 and start charging to God instead of crawling away from his outstretched hand. Here is a quote that was shared in "The Call" that fits well with repentance: "For every Christian in every culture, repentance is necessary. But this does not mean that when we become followers of Jesus, we make a decided break with an old way of living and take a decisive turn to a new way of life. We literally die to our sin and to ourselves - our self-centeredness, self-consumption, self-righteousness, self-indulgence, self-effort, and self-exaltation. We have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us" and that is why we repent. Christ lives in us. Let us see what scripture says specifically about repentance:
In Acts 2:31-38 we are shown Peter proclaiming the good news of Christ's death for sin to the crowd's, when they ask him, "What shall we do?" Peter does not have them repeat a prayer, but he stares the crowd right in their eyes and says, "Repent!"
Acts 26:20 says, "First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." We see that works do not secure salvation either before or after conversion, but they are a sign of the reality of repentance. Repentance is the first step and a foundational aspect of salvation and the Christian life, this cannot be overlooked.
2 Peter 3:8-9 says, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." It is important to understand that repenting is not just for the saved, but for those who are wanting to come to Christ. It is also equally as important to know repenting is not a one and one deal. It is ongoing in your conversation with God.
Isaiah 30:15 says, "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it." We have found the true way to salvation and security! It is repentance and rest, all we have to do is repent and rest.
Jeremiah 15:19 says, "Therefore this is what the Lord says: If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. In verses 20-21 we see God encourages and renews Jeremiah's call for his repentance. Only good will come from your relationship with God if you repent.
This is just some of the verses in scripture that speak to repentance, but they all lead to one thing: A relationship with God through Salvation and a new way of living as a disciple of Christ alive with Christ living in you. This is repentance, without it, you are without Christ.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
The Call
A few days ago I was sitting, drinking my coffee with a hint of cinnamon, and I started reading the next book on my list: "Follow Me: A Call To Die, A Call To Live", by David Platt. After reading for a while I began to feel a heavy burden on my heart, society doesn't know the truth of Christianity, and it is up to me and other Christian leaders to show and teach the truth of Christianity. The truth is this: You are not saved from a mere prayer, but from truly knowing Christ, dying to yourself, so you may be alive in Christ. "If anyone is going to follow me, he must deny himself." I believe the problem isn't that society doesn't necessarily understand this truth, but that they are afraid of "The Call".
Following Christ's example will come with sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 13:15-16), for we are called to be different, to be light in the darkness. "Yes, there is a cost that accompanies stepping out of casual, comfortable, cultural christianity, but it is worth it. More aptly He is worth it." It is worth it because "in Christ they encountered a love that surpassed comprehension, a satisfaction that superseded circumstances, and a purpose that transcended every other possible pursuit in this world." Let's look at some people who followed "The Call" of God.
First of all we see "The Call" of Abram (Abraham). In Genesis 12: 1-9 we see a man of faith and true dedication to God. Abram was called by God to leave his home and go. "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." So, Abram left, with his wife and nephew and their possessions, he left, without hesitation at the age of seventy-five. Abram displayed prompt obedience characterized by his faith. A seventy-five year old man today would tell God he is crazy if He wants him to leave all he has to go follow him at his age. The world we live in does not understand the power and nature and call of God.
Second we see "The Call" of the First Disciples. In Matthew 4:18-22 we are shown five fishermen, who demonstrate enormous faith and diligence to their call. Jesus calls out to Simon, Peter, and Andrew to come and follow me, and they leave at once to follow him. They come across James and John and again they leave at once to follow him. How easily it seems to them, to drop their nets and follow him. It would take us today months, if not years, to make and act on a decision like this. They understood "the call" in it's fullness, something we do not today, or we choose not too.
Lastly we see Saul's (Paul) conversion in Acts 9: 1-31. Saul a man who persecuted Christ and his follower's, killing many, had an overwhelming call and conversion. For a man of this stature to meet Christ and follow His call and become the most influential follower of Christ is one of the most powerful examples of scripture. Saul knew what it meant to follow "the call", to live for Christ. Saul died to himself, and was alive in Christ as Paul.
All of these men knew what it would cost to follow "the call", but they followed Christ regardless of the sacrifices they had to make. They were true disciples of Christ, something we miss today. One primary factor contributing to our failings in being disciples and following "the call" is how we live only by one side of the coin. We are shown in Acts 8: 4-40 that you are missing something as a Christ follower if you only teach and follow one side of the coin. Experiencing the rule of God in one’s life requires, in the words of Jesus, repentance and believing the gospel. Evidently, the new believers in Samaria were not hearing the totality of the message of the kingdom of God. As Jesus said in Mark 1:15, "The time has come, the Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news."
Just like in Acts 8 we are missing parts of what a disciple is, part of what keeps us from following "the call". Just as in Acts, we have the repent part down. We can say a prayer and repent our sins, but that is not where it ends, that is the beginning. Repentance is a foundational aspect of how to become a follower of Christ, but there is more. In Acts 8 they sent in Peter and John to teach what Philip was missing, the need for the Holy Spirit and the need to die to yourself and live a new life in Christ. "For ever Christian in every culture, repentance is necessary... But this does not mean that when we become followers of Jesus, we make a decided break with an old way of living and take a decisive turn to a new way of life... we "have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in us."
I want to leave off with this, the cornerstone to this point, that we must die to our old, and live anew in Christ, we must repent and believe in the good news, living accordingly every day to this knowledge and call. Mark 8: 34-38: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, The Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
Following Christ's example will come with sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 13:15-16), for we are called to be different, to be light in the darkness. "Yes, there is a cost that accompanies stepping out of casual, comfortable, cultural christianity, but it is worth it. More aptly He is worth it." It is worth it because "in Christ they encountered a love that surpassed comprehension, a satisfaction that superseded circumstances, and a purpose that transcended every other possible pursuit in this world." Let's look at some people who followed "The Call" of God.
First of all we see "The Call" of Abram (Abraham). In Genesis 12: 1-9 we see a man of faith and true dedication to God. Abram was called by God to leave his home and go. "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." So, Abram left, with his wife and nephew and their possessions, he left, without hesitation at the age of seventy-five. Abram displayed prompt obedience characterized by his faith. A seventy-five year old man today would tell God he is crazy if He wants him to leave all he has to go follow him at his age. The world we live in does not understand the power and nature and call of God.
Second we see "The Call" of the First Disciples. In Matthew 4:18-22 we are shown five fishermen, who demonstrate enormous faith and diligence to their call. Jesus calls out to Simon, Peter, and Andrew to come and follow me, and they leave at once to follow him. They come across James and John and again they leave at once to follow him. How easily it seems to them, to drop their nets and follow him. It would take us today months, if not years, to make and act on a decision like this. They understood "the call" in it's fullness, something we do not today, or we choose not too.
Lastly we see Saul's (Paul) conversion in Acts 9: 1-31. Saul a man who persecuted Christ and his follower's, killing many, had an overwhelming call and conversion. For a man of this stature to meet Christ and follow His call and become the most influential follower of Christ is one of the most powerful examples of scripture. Saul knew what it meant to follow "the call", to live for Christ. Saul died to himself, and was alive in Christ as Paul.
All of these men knew what it would cost to follow "the call", but they followed Christ regardless of the sacrifices they had to make. They were true disciples of Christ, something we miss today. One primary factor contributing to our failings in being disciples and following "the call" is how we live only by one side of the coin. We are shown in Acts 8: 4-40 that you are missing something as a Christ follower if you only teach and follow one side of the coin. Experiencing the rule of God in one’s life requires, in the words of Jesus, repentance and believing the gospel. Evidently, the new believers in Samaria were not hearing the totality of the message of the kingdom of God. As Jesus said in Mark 1:15, "The time has come, the Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news."
Just like in Acts 8 we are missing parts of what a disciple is, part of what keeps us from following "the call". Just as in Acts, we have the repent part down. We can say a prayer and repent our sins, but that is not where it ends, that is the beginning. Repentance is a foundational aspect of how to become a follower of Christ, but there is more. In Acts 8 they sent in Peter and John to teach what Philip was missing, the need for the Holy Spirit and the need to die to yourself and live a new life in Christ. "For ever Christian in every culture, repentance is necessary... But this does not mean that when we become followers of Jesus, we make a decided break with an old way of living and take a decisive turn to a new way of life... we "have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in us."
I want to leave off with this, the cornerstone to this point, that we must die to our old, and live anew in Christ, we must repent and believe in the good news, living accordingly every day to this knowledge and call. Mark 8: 34-38: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, The Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
The Reality of Heaven and Hell
After a Bible Study a few years ago, I spent many nights contemplating a question that had surfaced during our discussion. If you are discussing (or believing) heaven do you directly discuss (believe) hell?
A struggle I found myself in, along with many other Christians, was trying to comprehend a place of such misery, pain, and torture. The brutality of Hell is incomprehensible; however, it is utterly truthful. no matter how strongly I do not want a place, such as Hell, to exist, there is no denying it does (Psalm 73:12-19). One of the primary contributors towards the reality of Hell, lies within the attributes of God our creator. He is the Supreme Judge, a fair and loving judge (John 5:24-30; Romans 2:1-16).
There is much to be said of the wicked being cast into Hell within Scripture, this is undeniable, and the act of denying this aspect of Scripture is a sin. Numerous Christians in society today are guilty of picking and choosing what they want to believe from Scripture. It says in John 1 that the word was with God and the word was God, to deny any part of the word is to deny a part of God. The Bible is complete truth, revealed to us through many means by God, and we are meant to believe the wholeness of it's truth. For me, it is quite easy, I came to a sense of clarity in this: When discussing the theology of Heaven, you directly discuss the theology of Salvation; because, only through Salvation is there Heaven and Heaven is only obtained through Salvation (John 3:14-17). Also, while discussing the theology of Salvation you come to realize the truth of evil, Satan, and ultimately Hell. You conclude this based on the necessity of Salvation. The Gospel's declare that you only have life through Salvation otherwise you are considered dead (spiritually). Salvation means there must be a Heaven that you obtain once saved, which also means there must be a Hell that you are being saved from. You cannot separate the two in your reality, if you do, if you do not believe in one then Salvation ceases to be important or necessary in our lives. I, in the completeness of my heart, believe that Salvation is the only source of life. Only once I believed that Christ's death on the cross and resurrection was for me and my sins, I finally was alive. Through Christ's sacrifice, God see's me only through blood of his son, allowing me to obtain an eternal Salvation, sealed by Holy Spirit. From the top of my head to the soles of my feet, I believe in all of who I am in the reality of Heaven and Hell, because I am confident that one day, I will be in Heaven for eternity looking into the face of my Father (Revelations 22:4).
A struggle I found myself in, along with many other Christians, was trying to comprehend a place of such misery, pain, and torture. The brutality of Hell is incomprehensible; however, it is utterly truthful. no matter how strongly I do not want a place, such as Hell, to exist, there is no denying it does (Psalm 73:12-19). One of the primary contributors towards the reality of Hell, lies within the attributes of God our creator. He is the Supreme Judge, a fair and loving judge (John 5:24-30; Romans 2:1-16).
There is much to be said of the wicked being cast into Hell within Scripture, this is undeniable, and the act of denying this aspect of Scripture is a sin. Numerous Christians in society today are guilty of picking and choosing what they want to believe from Scripture. It says in John 1 that the word was with God and the word was God, to deny any part of the word is to deny a part of God. The Bible is complete truth, revealed to us through many means by God, and we are meant to believe the wholeness of it's truth. For me, it is quite easy, I came to a sense of clarity in this: When discussing the theology of Heaven, you directly discuss the theology of Salvation; because, only through Salvation is there Heaven and Heaven is only obtained through Salvation (John 3:14-17). Also, while discussing the theology of Salvation you come to realize the truth of evil, Satan, and ultimately Hell. You conclude this based on the necessity of Salvation. The Gospel's declare that you only have life through Salvation otherwise you are considered dead (spiritually). Salvation means there must be a Heaven that you obtain once saved, which also means there must be a Hell that you are being saved from. You cannot separate the two in your reality, if you do, if you do not believe in one then Salvation ceases to be important or necessary in our lives. I, in the completeness of my heart, believe that Salvation is the only source of life. Only once I believed that Christ's death on the cross and resurrection was for me and my sins, I finally was alive. Through Christ's sacrifice, God see's me only through blood of his son, allowing me to obtain an eternal Salvation, sealed by Holy Spirit. From the top of my head to the soles of my feet, I believe in all of who I am in the reality of Heaven and Hell, because I am confident that one day, I will be in Heaven for eternity looking into the face of my Father (Revelations 22:4).
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Short Intro. Thought On Salvation
To start of this blog, I thought a perfect fit would be to post a short tid-bit on Salvation. My mother received her lesson for children's church the other day. We both found it odd, the outlook on the passage it had especially in regards to this being formatted for children. This lesson looked at the parable in Scripture where a man hire's people for a job at the beginning of the day, he continues to do this at different points in the day, the last of which are hired just an hour before the work day is done. The man then begins to pay his workers. He starts with those who began at the end of the day. The people whom the man hired that morning saw him paying the latecomer's, they thought they would be payed more because they worked all day. When it came time for these people to be payed, they received the same payment as all the others before them. This reflects on our Salvation. The lesson focused on how we all will have equal rewards in heaven, no matter how long we have been saved and how much we did on earth. My problem with this is, for starters it makes it seem as if we are earning our Salvation. This cannot be done. We in no way can earn our Salvation, if is a gift freely given for those who truly believe in and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. My second problem is that, it is just not true. A person who has been saved for 50 years and lived a Godly life-style will have rewards in heaven that God has specifically accounted for him. A new Christian of less than a year, will not have the same amount or even type of rewards in heaven. This isn't speaking to the fact you are accepted into heaven or not, just the rewards your will have. I believe the main thing this lesson needs to discuss is that as Christians we are not to keep track of the good we and gloat about the rewards we may have in heaven, for the gift is being in heaven with Jesus Christ for all eternity.
This was my first and only off the cuff post. It was just to get thing started. All others will be thought out and well worth your while.
In His Name,
David Mann
This was my first and only off the cuff post. It was just to get thing started. All others will be thought out and well worth your while.
In His Name,
David Mann
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